Norman stafford



(No Model.)

N. STAFFORD.

RAKE.

No. 597.919. Patented Jan. 25.1898.

INVE TOR ATTORNEYS,

UNITED STATES NORllIAN STAFFORD, OF GANASTOTA, NEW YORK.

RAKE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 597,919, dated January25, 1898. Application filed September 17,1896. Serial No. 606,131. (Nomodel.)

To all whomjt may concern.-

Be it known that I, NORMAN STAFFORD, of Canastota, in the county ofMadison, in the State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Rakes, of which the following, taken in connection withthe accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to improvements in rakes, and has for its objectthe production of a device which is simple in construction, strong anddurable in use, and secures the teeth to the axle without liability ofundue rattling and wear of the parts; and to this end it consists,essentially, in the general construction and arrangement of the supportfor securing the teeth to the axle.

In describing this invention reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of this specification, in which like'lettersindicate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of the detached axle ofa rake and a number of teeth operatively secured thereto by my improvedtooth-support. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2 2, Fig. 1.Fig. 3 is an isometric View, partly broken away, of my improvedtooth-support; and Fig. 4 is a vertical section of an axle and myimproved tooth-support shown as mounted upon the upper face of saidaxle.

A is an axle, B B a series of teeth, and O a support for securing theteeth in position. The axle A preferably consists of a strip or bar ofangle-iron and suitable spindles a a,

secured to the opposite extremities of said strip or bar, and the teethB are preferably formed of spring-wire and are provided with attachingends I), having laterally-projecting extremities Z). The tooth-support Cis usually formed of substantially the same length as the axle forsecuring all of the teeth thereto and consists of a substantially Lshaped angle-bar. It is obvious, however, that said support may beformed of considerably less length than the axle A, and that a number ofthe supportsmay be arranged end to end. The side c of the support 0 ispreferably engaged with the lower face of the axle, and the side 0projects downwardly from the rear or inner edge of said side 0. Myimproved tooth-support is not, however, necessarily arranged beneath theaxle, and at Fig. 4 I have shown an axle A and a tooth-support Garranged above said axle.

The outer or front portion of the lengthwise side 0 of the support 0 ispreferably formed with a downturned extension o a depressed forwardextension 0 and an upward extension 0 forming a hook-shaped extensionhaving a lengthwise groove or seat 0 which receives thelaterally-extending extremities b of the teeth 13. The support 0 isformed with a series of slots 0 which extend through both faces of saidsupport from the outer or lower portion of its side a to the outer orfront portion of its side 0, where they terminate in the lengthwisegroove 0 of the aforesaid hookshaped extension. The slots 0 receive theattaching ends of the teeth B and permit upand-down movement thereof,and, as best seen at Fig. 2, the faces 0 at the lower ends of said slotslimit the downward movement of the teeth B.

My improved tooth-support may be economically manufactured of rolledbars or sheet metal, is easily secured in position, is not liable tobecome unduly worn, and firmly and eifectively supports and guides theteeth without liability of undue rattling and wear of the parts.

The operation and construction of my invention will now be readilyunderstood upon reference to the foregoing description and theaccompanying drawings.

Having thus fully described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- As anew article of manufacture the hereindescribed tooth-support, the sameconsisting of an angle-bar having slots extending part way across andthrough both faces of said bar and a lengthwise recess or grooveintersected by the aforesaid slots serving as a seat for the teeth,substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name, in the presence oftwo attesting witnesses, at Ganastota, in the county of Madison, in theState of New York, this 12th day of September, 1896.

NORMAN STAFFORD.

' Witnesses:

E. O. MILBUHN, ROBERT Ronnrann.

